Wrench.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE C. FERGUSON, OF FBEDERICTON, BRUNSWICK, CANADA.

WRENCH.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, GEORGE C. FERGUSON, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vrenches, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to improvements in wrenches and has for its primary object the provision of a tool simple but strong in construction and capable of ready adjustment.

The invent-ion has for an object the provision of an adjustable wrench provided with jaws opening lengthwise of the shank or handle as distinguished from the ordinary jaws at right angles to the shank.

A further object ofthe invention is to provide a wrench wherein an adjust-able jaw may be freed from its connection with an opposing jaw so as to be easily slipped bodily from one position of adjustment to another position of adjustment without requiring the manipulation of screws, etc.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of adjustably related jaws wherein the means for securing the movable jaw in its desired position also constitutes in part a pivot for the opposing jaw, reducing to that extent the provision of unnecessary parts, while preserving practical efficiency.

The foregoing and other features of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description hereinafter contained, when read in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part hereof and wherein I have for the sake of illustration shown the preferred embodiment of the invention, it being obvious that changes may be made in the device disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings, Figure l is an elevation of the complete tool; Fig. 2 is a similar view partly in section and with the side plate removed; and Fig. 3 is an edge view.

Referring more specifically to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views, A represents the `shank or handle of the wrench, havingv an enlarged extension ca at its forward end of substantial thickness formed with suitable pockets and openings as and for purposes hereinafter pointed out.

To the extreme end ofthe portion a of:

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led August 28, 1911.

Patented Mar. 11,1913.

serial No. 646,425.

the handle a jaw B is inserted and securely fastened,the opposing jaw being represented at C, the latter being formed integral with but offset from a stem D of angular cross section adapted to pass through and work in a` channel E formed in the end portion a'. The jaws B and C are disposed as shown so that they will open outwardly lengthwise of the shank A, thus enabling nuts, etc., to be grasped by the extreme end of the implement which could not be reached by jaws of the right angle disposition hereinbefore discussed.

F represents a locking pawl having a cylindrical head ,f fitting a corresponding socket f" in the end portion a to constitute a pivot for the pawl, said pawl also having as shown, a series of teeth f across its face, and the back of the pawl being flat to abut against a shoulder el on the end portion a. The front portion of the pawl is also formed adjacent the pivot end thereof with a shoulder Z3 which is'adapted to coperate with a shoulder Z4 on the under portion a to limit the forward movement of the pawl on its pivot. The face of the stem D of the jaw C is similarly toothed, as at d for cooperation with the pawl f throughout a` substantial range of adjustment, the stem being held in engagement with the pawl and the back of the pawl in turn against its shoulder, under normal conditions through the medium of a spring pressed plunger Gr engaging the back of the stem D. The plunger has a tooth g at its end adapted to engage a notched portion f on the stem D to prevent excessive outward movement of the same.

To effect adjustment of the slidable jaw C the stem is forced backwardly against the pressure of the plunger Gr,-the latter being forced into its pocket g,-away from engagement with the teeth of the pawl F, the pawl being prevented from following the stem D byreason of its shoulder cl3 coming into contact with the shoulder d4 on the end portion a of the sha-nk, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. Q, when the same may be slid in the direction desired to regulate the size of the opening between the jaws. -Above the pivot f of the pawl, the edge of the end portion a is formed smooth, as at a so that when the stem is tilted into the position shown by the dotted lines referred to no tooth or obstruction is there exposed to catch on the teeth of the stem D which might interfere with the easy adjustment of the parts.

From the construction above described, it will be noted that shoulders are provided which limit the pivotal movement of the pawl in both directions, the rear edge of the pawl being held against one of the shoulders when the jaw is in its locked position by means of the yieldable member G, and the other shoulder serving to limit the outward movement of the pawl so that the teeth thereof cannot remain in engagement with the teeth of the movable jaw when it is moved to a position to permit longitudinal adjustment thereof. This construction enables the adjustment to be made by manipulating the stem only of the movable jaw, which renders it possible for any one using the wrench to readily and easily adjust the same with one hand. Furthermore, the limiting of the pivotal :movement of the pawl in this manner, and the provision of the smooth edge just above the pawl prevents any possibility of the teeth of the pawl engaging the teeth of the stem of the movable jaw, during the adjustment of said jaw.

In operation, after the movable aw C has been adjusted as desired and the wrench applied, the shank may rock the jaw B upon the pivot f of the pawl F. In this particular the pivot for the pawl also constitutes the pivot for the jaw B as the jaws are rocked into closer biting engagement with an object, while at the same time the pawl F will securely hold the jaw C in its predetermined position of adjustment until released by the positive shifting of the stem D away from the teeth-of the pawl, as hereinabove outlined.

H represents a side plate adapted to cover and protect the interior working parts of the device, the plate being contoured to overlie the enlarged end portion a of the handle A and secured thereto by means of screws or equivalent fastenings h.

Fromthe foregoing it will be appreciated that in a simple and practical way I provide a wrench possessing the requisite strength and capable of a wide range of adjustment while `eliminating the relatively complicated details or parts usually employed in devices of this character'.

vI claim 1. A lwrench of the character described comprising a handle portion, a jaw at the end thereof, a cooperating jaw, means for adjusting said cooperating jaw including a toothed stem, a pawl adapted to engage the same, and yieldable means for forcing the shank into engagement with the pawl, the stem of the adjustable jaw and the said yieldable means having coperating projections limiting the outward movement of the adjustable jaw.

2. A wrench of the character described comprising a handle portion, a jaw at the end thereof, a coperating jaw, means for adjusting said coperating jaw including a toothed stem, a pawl adapted to engage the same, and yieldable means for forcing the shank into engagement with the pawl, the pawl being pivoted to the firstl mentioned jaw' to permit the latter to pivot relative to the second mentioned aw, the stem of the adjustable aw and the said yieldable means having coperating projections limiting the outward movement of the adjustable jaw.

3. A wrench of the character described, comprising a handle portion, a jaw at the end thereof, a cooperating jaw, and means for adjusting said coperating jaw including a toothed stem, a pivoted pawl adapted to engage the same, a stop for limiting the pivotal movement of said pawl away from said toothed stem, yieldable means directly engaging the toothed stem for forcing the same into engagement with the pawl, and the pawl into engagement with said stop, a stop for limiting the movement of said pawl toward said toothed stem, the first mentioned jaw above the pawl having a smooth edge to permit adjustment of the adjustable jaw when rocked forwardly at its upper end as the lower end of the toothed stem moves out of engagement with the pawl.

4. A wrench of the character described, comprising a handle portion, provided with a jaw at the end thereof aud with a transverse opening therein, a coperating jaw loosely mounted in the opening in the handle portion, said cooperating aw being provided with a toothed stem, a pawl pivoted to the handle portion and adapted to engage the toothed stem of the coperating jaw, a

stop for limiting the pivotal movement of said pawl away from said toothed stem, yieldable means engaging the toothed stem, for forcing the same into engagement with the pawl, and the pawl into engagement with said stop, the pawl being pivoted to the first mentioned to permit the latter to pivot relative to the second mentioned jaw, a stop for limiting the movement of the paw'l toward said toothed stem whereby the toothed stem may be moved out of engagement with the pawl, the first mentioned aw above the pawl having a smooth edge to )ermit adjustmentof the adjustable jaw w ien rocked forwardly at its upper end as the lower end of the stem moves out of engagement with the pawl.

In testimony whereof I atiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE C. FERGUSON.

Witnesses JAMES HOLLAND, CHARLES W. HALL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

